S4 E04 Bruce

06/24/14 | TV-PG | CC

Bruce, 29, is from Salt Lake City, UT. He is 5’10” and weighs 382 pounds. A high school football coach, Bruce is adored by his players and friends. He wants to set a better example for his team. However, he struggles with a dark secret from his past.

As as a child, Bruce turned to food for comfort after he says he was a victim of mental and sexual abuse by his dad. His father has never admitted to molesting Bruce, though he is currently in jail for his crimes against other children. It took Bruce nine years to finally admit that he was also abused. Realizing he needed to take his weight loss to the next level, Bruce wrote a letter to Chris Powell asking for help.

In one of the most powerful episodes in “Extreme Weight Loss” history, Chris takes on the challenge of not only helping Bruce lose 50% of his body weight, but also urging him to confront the issue behind his weight gain. Chris stands with Bruce as he struggles to decide whether or not he will attend his father’s first parole hearing.

During his journey on “Extreme Weight Loss,” Bruce is offered some amazing opportunities, including a VIP visit to meet his favorite football team: the Oakland Raiders. His visit includes a one-on-one workout with Raiders and NFL legend Jerry Rice, as well as a chance to meet his favorite player, Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, whom Bruce always looked up to because they share a common past, as Rocket says he was also a victim of sexual abuse as a child.